Hans Henric von Essen

Hans Henric von Essen (26 September 1755-28 June 1824) was a courtier and general of Sweden during the Napoleonic Wars. He was the Governor of Swedish Pommerania from 1800 to 1809 and Governor of Norway from 1814 to 1816.

Biography
Hans Henric von Essen was born in Kavlas Castle in Tidaholm in western Sweden in 1755 and became a cornet in the Swedish Army in 1773. In 1788 he became involved in a scandal when he had an affair with a lady-in-waiting, and he was slightly injured by an officer who fell for the woman in a duel attended by many Swedish army officers. In 1787 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Also, he was one of King Gustav III of Sweden's entourage when Gustav was shot by an assassin in 1792, and he ordered for all of the ballroom doors to be locked so that Swedish troops could capture the assassin, who was executed soon after.

In 1795 Essen became a Major-General of the Swedish army and was Governor-General of Swedish Pommerania from 1800 to 1809. In 1810 he served as Ambassador to France and restored Swedish Pommerania to Swedish control, and in 1814 Essen fought against Denmark during the Norwegian War. Sweden conquered Norway, and Essen remained as governor until 1816.